Rotating plate mixing device



Sept. 16, 1952 J. 5. CLARKE 7 2,610,836

ROTATING PLATE MIXING DEVICE Filed June 30, 1950 3 Sheefis-Sheet l I 1 "6 5 I E I z I Y. f 30. I, I, '1 "I v P I G.-i

QJames 5. CLarKe Unvuzbor b 20 Clbborneg Sept. 16, 1952 J. s. CLARKE 2,610,336

ROTATING PLATE MIXING DEVICE Filed June 50, 1950 S-Sheets-Sheet 2 Udmes S. (liar-14 Bavenfbor Sept. 1952 J. s. CLARKE I 2,610,836

ROTATING PLATE MIXING DEVICE Filed June 30, 1950 JSheets-Sheet 3 hum...

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domes 6. CiLarKe. Savanbor 1 (Q chum-nag Patented Sept. 16, 1952 ROTATINGPLATE MIXING avies James S. Clarke, East OrangaN. J assignor to Standard Oil Development Company,a corporation of Delaware Application Jensen, 1950, Serial No. 171,376

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for mixing or contacting fluids; The fluids may comprise liquids, gases, mixturesof either, suspensions and emulsions. "More par ticularly, the invention relates to such a method and apparatus for mixing or contacting liquids which are immiscible, or only partially miscible.

Normally, in the contacting ormixing of such materials, they may be brought together ina contacting or mixing'chamber or zone' in which they are indiscriminately agitate'dLwUnder other-circumstances, the materials maybe introduced into a mixing or contacting zone so as to flow there- I through in countercurrent relation, the energy required for mixing, or intimate contact, being derived primarily from the flow velocity or pres sure upon the fluids. Various types of'mechanical expedients may be employed in the conventional system, such as fixed multiple orifice plates, impellers, and vibrating plate mechanisms. In the last-mentioned system, a perforated plate is disposed at or near and substantially parallel to a predetermined fluid interracial level, and vibrated by vertically reciprocal movementso as to cause the components of the desired mixturasuspension or emulsion to be jetted into each other through the perforations and thus intimately mixed or contacted. Although adequate and efiicient'mixing and contacting may be obtained in this fashion, the system is subject to the disadvantage of requiring a reciprocating shaft entering the mixing or contacting chamber, and also is subject to leakage and other problems connected with reciprocal shafts.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method'and apparatus having the operational advantages of areciprocal 'pIatemiXing system, without the disadvantages thereof; It is also an object of'the invention to provide a contacting and mixing system in which energy expended for mixing of the fluids is not derived frim 'any' energy imparted to the flowing streams of fluids, but from a separate source of energy, which may be employed to vary the degree of mixing action independently of fluid flow.

The invention and its objects may be more fully understood from the following description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying draw ings, in which.

Fig. l is a side elevational view of an apparatus of the character contemplated, shown partly in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section of another form of the apparatus;

9 Claims; (01. 259-4) 'Fig. i is a'horizontal section through the apparatus of Fig.3 taken along the line IV-IV thereofy, I v

Fig. 5 is aview in perspective, and with parts broken away, ofstill anotherform of apparatus according to this invention, and

Fig. 6 is a schematic showing'of the employment I I of units such as illustrated in Fig. 5 in a multistage contacting system. I

In the drawings, like parts are designated byv the same numerals. Referring more specifically to the drawings, in each'of Figs, 1 to 4 inclusive,

the numeral I designates a container vessel or chamber in which fluids may be mixed. or contacted, according to the present invention. The vessel I is provided with inlet conduit means 2 opening into'the upper portion thereof and inlet conduit means 3 opening into the lower portion. Outlet conduit means 4 from the vessel is provided at an intermediate level vertically thereof. Preferably, the conduit means 2, 3 and 4 are provided with valves or other control means 2a, 3a and 4a respectively. Extended vertically into the vessel is a rotatably, driven shaft 5 which is connected at its outer end to any suitable source.

of driving power, although such source is not illustrated in the drawings. Mounted on the shaft 5 in angular relation thereto, and to a 7 horizontal plane intersecting the shaft at right angles, is a plate member 6. This member 6 is preferably a perforate plate of circular form located longitudinally of the shaft within the vessel so as to lie in a plane which angularly intersects a vertical plane diametrically through the shaft,and a horizontal plane intersecting the shaft and vertical plane in perpendicular relation thereto, and substantially coincident with the level of the outlet conduit means 4, so that the line of intersection of the vertical and horizontal planes is substantially contained in the angularly related plane of plate 6. The conduit means 4 normally communicates with the vessel so as to open'directly from the operating zone of the plate. y

The elements of the apparatus thus far set forth are substantially the minimum required for the mixing or contacting operation contemplated. The minimum structure, however, maybe im=- plemented in, various ways to improve or supple ment the operation of the basic structure as by means of anti-swirl baffles and/0r annular shield means encompassing the operating zone of the plate member 6.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the vessel I is provided with a series of batlle members 1 and 8, respectively above and below the operating zone of plate member 6, and with an annular shield 9, disposed vertically between the ballle members, substantially encompassing the operating zone of plate 6, both the shield and plate being of substantially smaller diameter than the vessel. The shield 9 may be supported within the vessel I as by means of radial plates or ribs 9a extending outwardly from the shield 9 into contact with the vessel walls and secured thereto. Alternately, the shield 9 may be secured to the upper and lower baffles in the vessel in any suitable manner. Preferably, the shield 9 is of a diameter such as to be spaced from the plate 6 at a distance substantially equal to the greatest dimension of the perforations therein, and at least sufficiently so as to avoid possible contact between the plate and shield. Also, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the baffle members I in the upper portion of the vessel extend radially outward from a sleeve I encircling the shaft and substantially concentric therewith, the outer ends of the baflles I being secured to the vessel walls, and the inner ends to the sleeve I0. As shown, the sleeve I0 is provided with upper and lower shaft bearings I I. The-lower baflle elements 8 extend radially outward from a center line substantially coincident with the center line of the shaft 5, being secured together at the center in any suitable fashion and at their outer ends to the vessel wall. Each of the baffle members I and 8 is slotted or perforated as at Ia and 8a to permit circulation of the fluids in the upper and lowerportions of the vessel while substantially preventing swirling of the fluids in the vessel. The bafile members may be disposed in any convenient fashion with relation to the flow of fluids through the vessel. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, one pair is normal or at right angles to flow through the vessel from inlet to outlet, and the remaining bafiles are disposed in intermediate angular relation thereto.

In the apparatus as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the vessel I is fully enclosed, having a fluidtight top portion la. The shaft 5 enters the vessel through the top Ia by way of a stufling box seal I2 which may also provide a bearing for the shaft. The inner end of the shaft is extended to the bottom of the vessel and is there mounted in a shaft bearing I3. The plate 6 is mounted on the shaft in substantially the same fashion as illustrated in Fig. 1 and is similarly located with reference to the level of the outlet conduit means 4. In this form of the invention, however, the annular shield is composed of an intermediate portion I4 which is a spherical zone section having a radius of curvature slightly greater than the radius of the plate 6. The upper and lower base edge portions of the section are preferably of equal diameter and each is provided with a frusto-conical rim portion I5 and I6 respectively. These rim portions are joined by their smaller ends to a base edge portion of the zone section I4 and extend angularly outwardly therefrom into substantially fluid-tight relation to the vessel walls, being secured thereto in any suitable fashion. The outlet conduit means 4 opens outwardly through both the shield member and the vessel wall. The inlet conduit means 2 and 3 respectively open into the vessel or chamber I in vertically spaced relation to the rim portions I5 and I3. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the vessel is provided with upper and lower baiile elements I! and I8 respectively, these elements being distinguished from those employed in the apparatus according to Figs. 1 and 2 in that they are disposed in vertically spaced relation to the top and bottom wall portions of the vessel with those edge portions of the baffle members which adjoin the operating zone of the baffle plate 6 angularly shaped to conform substantially to the smaller angle formed between the plate 6 and the shaft 5. As formed and arranged, the baffles extend angularly into the operating zone of the plate toward the shaft 5. The inner vertical edges of the baffles I1 and I9 are secured to annular sleeve members I 9 and 20 respectively encircling the shaft 5 and substantially concentric therewith, the baffles extending radially outwardly therefrom and are joined at their outer vertical edge portions to the vessel Walls. In illustrating the structure according to Figs. 3 and 4, the baffle members are shown as normal to and parallel to the fiow of fluids through the vessel by way of the inlet conduit means 2 and 3 and outlet conduit means 4, but it is intended that in the structures of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the arrangement of battles may be varied as desired.

In the apparatus as illustrated by Fig. 5, a vessel 2|, having a top wall 2Ia, is divided by means of an interior partition 2Ib into a mixing chamber 30 and a settling or separation chamber 40. An outlet from the mixing chamber 30 into the separation chamber 40 is provided by means of a slotted portion 24 in the partition 2Ib disposed at an intermediate level vertically of the partition. If desired, the slotted portion 24 may be arranged for dimensional adjustment as by means of a sliding plate, not shown, or by any other conventional structural means. Inlet conduit means 22 and 23 open into the mixing chamber 30 through one end wall of the vessel in vertically spaced relation one to another and communicating respectively with the upper and lower portions of the chamber. Outlet conduit means 4| and 42, opening respectively from the upper and lower portions of the chamber 40 through the other end wall of the vessel 2I, provide for the removal of materials from the separation chamber. The mixing chamber 30 is also provided with a mixing plate member 6 of the character described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the plate 6 being mounted on a rotatably driven shaft 5 extending vertically into the chamber through the top wall 2Ia of the vessel through a bearing and packing gland member 26.

In operation, the mixing and contacting device according to this invention, functions by displacement created by the angular motion of the perforate plate 6 during rotation by the shaft 5. For example, when the shaft is rotated through the plate 6 reverses its position, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3 and an amount of fluid in the chamber is displaced by the plate which is proportional to the area of the plate and the angle 12 indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. This angle is a function of the angle at which the plate is mounted on the shaft. If the plate is perforated, a considerable portion of the displaced fluid is forced through the plate perforations as well as around the edges of the plate. Depending upon whether any given portion of the plate is moving upwardly or downwardly, the fluid will be jetted downwardly or upwardly through the perforations and over the plate edge. J etting of the fluids through perforations in the plate accomplishes a shearing action which tends to increase the mixing or contacting with a' zone of high intensity agitationfiinmediat'ely adjacent the piate surraces. are withdrawn fro-m the inixingchamber, as by way of the conduit means tirrFigs. 1 and 3, or

the slotted portion. 24 of igfresl supply intensity. mixin fzone of ifluidsfflows into the hig. I from the upper and'lower portions of the vessel respectively. The introduction of the materials to be mixed or contacted is proportioned as desired by controlling flow through the inlet means 2 and 3, and the withdrawal or discharge of the mixed or contacted materials by way of line A or slotted portion 24 is adjusted to the total volume of fluids introduced. In the apparatus of. Fig. 5, contacted and separated fluids are withdrawn from vessel 2! by way of the conduit means M and 42. It is a particular feature or the apparatus illustrated and described that gravity fiow within the mixing or contacting vessel is not essential to the operation, and where two substantially immiscible fluids are to be contacted, the lighter may be introduced into the upper portion of the vessel and the heavier into the lower portion as compared with the normal procedure of introducin the heavier fluid above and the lighter fluid below.

The apparatus in any form illustrated and described may be employed for mixing or contactlng various fluid materials which may or may not be miscible materials. Gaseous materials may be contacted or mixed with liquids, or liquids with liquids. For example, water gas be scrubbed with dlethanolamine to remove carbon dioxide. Likewise, liquids such as oil and aqueous phenol solutions may be contacted in the appa' ratus described, introducing the phenol solution by way of the inlet into the lower portion of the vessel and the oil by way of the inlet to the upper portion. Where miscible materials of different gravities are to be combined, the lighter material is also introduced into the upper portion of the vessel and the heavier material into the lower portion.

Where it is desired to provide a multi-stage contacting system, a series of vessels such as the vessel 2| of Fig. 5 may be employed. A threestage system is illustrated by Fig. 6, in which provision is made for countercurrent flow of two immiscible fluids to be contacted, the lighter fluid entering through an inlet conduit 22 at one end of the system and the heavier fluid entering by way of an inlet conduit 25 at the opposite end of the system. In such a countercurrent system,

the outlet conduit means el from the first vessel in the series is connected to the inlet conduit means 22 of the second vessel, and each succeeding vessel is thus connected to another until the lighter fluid is discharged from the system by means of outlet conduit M opening from the last vessel. The heavier fluid enters the mixing chamber of the last vessel in the series by way of inlet conduit means 23 connected thereto, and is passed from the separation. chamber of that vessel by way of outlet conduit in is 12 opening therefrom and connected in turn to the next preceding chamber by way of the inlet con duit means 123. Such interconnection is contin ued through the series to the first vessel 2! thereof, from whence the heavier fluid is. discharged by way of outlet conduit means as opening therefrom. In each of the vessels 25, the incoming As 'iluids fluids are mired in the mixing-chamber there I of, continuously withdrawn through the slotted portioirof the interior partition 2 lb into the separation chamberntll, whence the separated materials are withdrawn respectively through the outlet conduit means M and 62 What is claimed is:

1. A fluid mixing'andcontacting device comprising a container vessel, a rotatably driven shaft extended vertically intosald vessel, aperforate plate membermounted on said shaft'in angular relation thereto, an annular shield member interiorly of said vessel enclosing said plate peripherally thereof and in closely spaced lateral relation thereto and disposed longitudinally of the vessel at an intermediate level vertically thereof, said shield communicating with the interior of said vessel above and below said plate outlet conduit meansopening from the vessel through said shield substantially at said intermediate level, and inlet conduit means opening into said vessel above and below said. shield in vertically spaced relation to said outlet conduit means.

2. A fluid mixing and contacting device according to claim 1, in which the annular-shield member consists of an intermediate spherical zone section having upper and lower base edge portions of equal radius, and upper and lower frustoconical rim portions each joined to a base edge portion of said intermediate section by its smaller end.

3. A fluid mixing and contacting device according to claim 1, in which the annular shield member consists of a tubular element supported in radially spaced relation to the vessel walls.

4. A. fluid mixing and contacting device according to claim l,-in which said plate member is disposed so as to lie substantially in a plane extending diagonally across the shield from a point on the upper edge of one side to a diametrically opposite point on the lower edge of the opposite side.

5. A fluid mixing and contacting device comprising a container vessel; outlet conduit means opening from said vessel at an intermediate level vertically thereof, inlet conduit means opening shaft, and vertical baffle means extending radially outward from immediately adjacent the peripheral surface of said shaft into secured contact with the vessel walls, and vertically into spaced relation to said plate member.

6. A- fluid mixing and contacting device according to claim 5, in which at least two of said baffle means are disposed in a line normal to said inlet and outlet conduit means.

7. A fluid mixing and contacting device according to claim 5, in which at least two of said bafile means are disposed in a line parallel to said inlet and outlet means.

8. fluid mixing and contacting device ac cording to claim 5, in which said b aille means are disposed in a lineintermediate those which may be normal. and parallel to said inlet and outlet means.

9. A fluid mixing and contacting device according to claim 5 in which said baffle means are disposed above and below said plate member in 7 vertically spaced relation thereto and to said Number inlet and outlet conduit means respectively. 1,156,606 JAMES S. CLARKE. 1,908,002 2,246,559 REFERENCES CITED 5 2,397,488 The following references are of record in the 2,477,929 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date 401, 697,152 Lippold Apr. 8, 1902 556,090

8 Name Date Lawrie Oct. 12, 1915 Valentine May 9, 1933 Weinig June 24, 1941 Hougland et a1. Apr. 2, 1946 Hetherington et a1. Aug. 2, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Nov. 16, 1933 Great Britain Sept. 20, 1943 

